Cuba libre
...fall of the speaking voice. They therefore reproduced only a kind of heightened speech that, by means of its musical elements, also communicated emotion. The birth of opera as we know it was brought about by Claudio Monteverdi, with his Orfeo, which was premiered in 1607. The innovative steps that Monteverdi introduced were continued throughout the 17th century. As opera became a public entertainment, with the opening of the first public opera house in Venice in 1637, the content and structure of opera changed to meet the demands of new audiences. One of Monteverdi’s students, Cavalli, worked in Venice, and is credited with introducing the aria to opera (Elson, 1901: 13). This style of opera, which was more accessible, was developed by Cavalli and others, and an example of an early opera filled with romantic arias is his ‘Faustini’. By 1700, opera in Italy had become standardized in a form that is typified by the works of Scarlatti: a three-movement overture followed by three acts, each composed of sharply differentiated recitatives and arias (almost invariably ternary, ABA, in structure), with the occasional duet or ensemble, and a final chorus for the entire cast. The development of opera in the 17th century in the rest of Europe was somewhat different (Jellinek: 2000; 12). French opera, as exemplified by the ‘Tragedies Lyriques’ by Lully, was essentially a court spectacle. The opera texts were based mostly on legendary or mythological themes, and the action was set over five acts. Large choral and ceremonial scenes were included, which reflected the magnificence and social order of the age of Louis XIV. Later in the 17th century, France and Germany both imported Italian opera, and there were many attempts at German-language opera (Lindenberger: 1998; 16). An opera house opened in 1678 in Hamburg, where Handel wrote his first operas. English opera was influenced by trends in French opera, and 'semi-opera' with spoken dialogue was dominant at first. Operas such as Purcell's Dido and Aeneas (which is an outstanding 17th-century example) were not common until well after 1900 (Lindenberger: 1984; 34). The Audience for 17th Century Opera Initially, opera began as a spectacle for the rich. Operas were commissioned by the patron, and were initially performed for the patron and his invited guests (Bokina: 1997; 24). For example, the first performance of Orfeo was held in a small room at the Gonzaga’s residence that had been specially prepared for the occasion, and was entirely funded by the crown prince Gonzaga, Duke of Mantua (Kelly: 2000; 5). Once opera became popular, under the influence of Monteverdi, it was taken to the masses. The blossoming of public opera in Italy started with the opening of the first public opera house in Venice in 1637 (Rosand: 1991; 18). Shortly after this, opera houses opened in many Italian cities and in many other European cities (Levin: 1993; 54). Claudio Monteverdi: Biography Claudio Monteverdi was b...